Crochet needle



S. M. BIKER.

CROCHET NEEDLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-29, 1920.

'1 ,409,580, Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

INVENTORZ A TTORNEYS 1 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL M. BIKER, OF CHESTER, NEW JERSEY.

CROCHET NEEDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

To 0Z5 2 item it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. RIKER, acitizen of the United States, residing at- Chester, in the county ofMorris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Crochet Needles; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tocharacters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in needles;and, the said invention has reference, more particularly, to a novelconstruction of crochet-needle, the shank or main stem of which isprovided at a point between the working point or tip and the oppositeend of the shank or stem, with a pivot-ally disposed finger-receivingmember or guard. arranged to receive the operators index finger, for thepurpose of properly and effectively holding the needle in its operativerelation to the hand, as well as to the work, and the pivotalarrangement of the finger-receiving member or guard permitting theproper positioning of the needle upon the index finger of either theright or left hand, so that the crochet-needle maybe effectivelyemployed by either a right-handed or left-handed person, as may bedesired.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal objects toprovide a novel and simply-constructed crochet-needle, upon the shankorstem of which is pivotally mounted a finger-receiving member or guard,with a view of providing a simple means for maintaining the properposition of the needle to the hand of the operator, and alsodispensingwith the usual tiring effect, due

to the fact that the shank or stem of the usual needle has to be firmlyheld between the thumb and forefinger of the operator,

chet-needle provided upon the shank or needle, so that if desired, thefinger-receiving member or guard can be removed from the shank or stemof the needle, and that the latter can then be used in the manner of theusual and ordinary crochet-needle, if so desired.

Furthermore, owing to. the pivotal arrangement of the finger-receivingmember or guard, the shank of the needle has a free movement withrelation to the forefinger of the operator, thus by means of such freemovement permitting of a free and wider scope of movement of the workingpoint or tip of the needle with relation to the work. Other objects ofthe present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated willbe clearly understood from the following detailed description of thepresent invention.

lVith the various objects of the present invention in view, the saidinvention consists, primarily, in the novel crochet-needle hereinaftermore fully set forth; and, the said invention consists. furthermore, inthe novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices andparts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts,all of which will be more fully described in the followingspecification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claimswhich are appended to and which form an essential part of the saidspecification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure l is a perspective view of a crochet-needlc made accordingto and embodying the principles of the present invention, said viewillustrating in connection with the hand of the operator, theapplication of the crochet-needle, by means of a pivotally disposedfinger-receiving loop or guard, to the forefinger of the hand; and

Figure 2 is a top or plan view of the cro-' chet-needle and itspivotally mounted fingerreceiving loop or guard, detached from thefinger.

Figureil is a plan or top view of a crochet-needle provided with amodified construction of pivoted finger-receiving memher or guard; andFigure 4 IS a side elevation of the same.

Figure 5 is a plan or top view of a cro- V with still another modifiedconstruction of pivotal finger-receiving member or guard.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said abovedescribed riewsto indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, thereference-character 1 indicates the shank or main stem of the ordinaryand general construction of crochetneedle, usually made of a continuouspiece of tempered wire, which is formed at its one end-portion with aCrocheting tip or point 2, and at asuitable point intermediate said tipor point and the end-portion 3 of the shank or stem the latter is madewith the oppositely disposed and suitably shaped At its other or rearend-portion, the said plate 5 is made with a laterally extendingside-member, as 9, formed at or near its free end with a laterallyextending and down wardly curved member 10, said member 10 alsoterminating at its edge in an upwardly projection guide-flange, as 11.Extending in an upward direction of the said guard-plate 5 is apivot-post or pin 12 upon which is pivotally or oscillator-fly mounted afingerreceiving member or guard which consists, essentially, of asuitably shaped base 13 formed at its opposite edges with 7 thinresilientwings 14, said wings being suit ably curved inoppositedirections, and terminating toward each other, as at 15. From aninspection o'tsaid Figures land 2 of the drawings, it will readily beseen, that the shank orstem ofthe. needle can be easily inserted in apositively clamped or held relation with the tubular member 8 and withthe curved retaining'member 10 and its guide-flange 11, with the fiatface-por tions 4 ofthe'shank or stem being located between members 8 and10,si1bstantially ,as shown, 'and 'the'parts being securely held intheir, assembled relation by the vfrictional vident V The base 13 andits resilient wing-s14: form Contact of the side-portions ot the shankor stem with the interior surfacapo'rtions of the tubular member 8 andthe curved member l'Orand its fiange 11, 'aswill be clearly a tubularelement for embracing the users finger, the wings thus forming afinger-receiving socket which will expand or contact according to thesize of the finger, so that the crochetneedle may be readily andeffectively used, without requiring the shank of the needle to begrasped or held between the thumb and fore-finger, thereby preventingcramping of the operators hand as is now so often the case with thecommon straight form of crochet-needle.

Furthermore, the pivotal arrangement of the finger-receiving member orguards, per-- mits the needle to be adjusted in its opera tive positionto the forefinger of either the right or left hand, thus enabling theuse of the needle by both right-handed and left handed persons.

In Figures 3 and l, is illustrated. a slightly dilferent constructionoi'base for attaching the pivoted finger-receivingmember or guard to theshank or stem of the needle. T

The attaching means "in this construction comprises a flat, or othersuitably shaped plate, as 16, which is slightly downwardly bent, as at17, to provide a holding or retaining member 18, curved at its one end.as at 19, and is then doubled upon itself as at 20, in a manner, asindicated in Figure 4 of the drawings. In the curved edge l? is aperforation or opening 23, the members 18 and 20, being preferablyformed with the outwardly extending portions 2]. and 253. also arrangedto provide a receiving socket 'for maintaining a frictional holdingengage,

ment of the plate 16 upon the shank or stem of the needle, when theworking end-portion of the latter-has beeninserte d through the holeor'perloration 23, and when the dupering edges of the flattened part ofthe shank or stem are forcibly brou'ghtdnto holding, o

contact with the wall-portions which pi vide the boundary of the saidhole-tor perioration23, as will be clearly understood from an inspectionof said Figure ot the drawings. 4

At its rear end-portion, the said plate 16 is also provided with apivot-post oi pin upon which is pivotally or ,oscillatorilr mounted alinger-receiving member or guard which consists, essentially, of asuitably shaped base. 25 formed at its opposite edgee with thinresilient wings26, said wings, as 111 the construction shown in Figures1 and 2 ot the draw ngs, being suitably curred in opposite directions,and terminating toward eachother, as at-QZ. Thus, the plate 16 providedwith a"pivoted finger-receiving member orrguard of thesame constructionand for the same purposes as the finger-receiving member or guardheretofore described in connection with the construction illustrated insaid Figuresl and 2 ot the drawings. 7 a V In lieu of either of theconstruction shown in said Figures l'to 4 inclusive, and de scribed inthe foregoing specification, the flattened portion 4 of theshank or stemof the crochet-needle may be provided with a.

pivot-post or pin 28, the plates 9 and 16 and the parts connectedtherewith being dispensed with, as indicated in Figure 5 of thedrawings. In this construction, there is pivotally or oscillatorilymounted upon said pivotpost or pin, for the same purposes hereinabovedescribed, a finger-receiving member or guard, consisting of a suitablyshaped base 29 formed at its opposite edges with thin resilient wings30. said wings being suitably curved in opposite directions, andterminating towardeach other, as at 31.

From the foregoing description of the present invention it will beclearly evident that a cheap and simply constructed as well as aneffectively operating crochet-needle has been produced, the pivotalarrangement of the finger-receiving element or guard, readily permittingthe use of the same by persons working with either the right hand orwith the left hand.

Furthermore, the pivotal arrangement of the finger-receiving looppermits the needle to be used in a swinging or oscillatory man ner withrelation to the forefinger, so that the needlepoint may be variouslyused upon the work. I I

Also, the arrangement of the various parts as described. in theforegoing specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,is extremely simple and efficient,

thus producing a crochet-needle which can be readily and convenientlyused by the operator, without cramping the hand or the forefinger andthumb, as so often happens with needles of the usual and common straightshanks or stems, which necessitate the needle being held with more orless force between the forefinger and thumb.

\Vhile in the foregoing I have described the present invention asapplied to the shank or stem of a crochet-needle, it will be understoodthat the principles of the invention may be applied to shanks or stemsof the various kinds, adapted for use to numerous purposes other thancrochet-work.

I am also aware, that changes may be made in the general arrangementsand com binations of the various devices and parts, as well as in thedetails of the construction of the said parts, without departing fromthe scope of the present invention as set forth in the foregoingspecification, and as defined in the clauses of the claims which areappended to the said specification. Hence, I do not limit mypresentinvention to the exact arrangements and combinations of thedevices and parts, as described in the said specification, nor do Ilimit myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts,as illustrated in the accompany ing drawing.

I claim 1. In combination with a shank or stem adapted for use as acrochet-needle, or the like said shank being provided with fiattenedportions, 'a finger-receiving element disposed upon one of said fiatportions, and a means of pivotal connection between said shank or stemand the said finger-receiving element for oscillating saidfinger-receiving element upon said flat portion.

2. In combination with a shank or stem adapted for use as acrochetneedle, or the like said shank being provided with flattenedportions, a finger-receiving clement disposed upon one of said flatportions consisting of a base and a pair ofresilient wings extendingfrom the opposite edges of said base, said wings being curved inopposite directions and terminating toward each other, and a means ofpivotal connection between said shank or stem and the base of saidfinger-receiving element for oscillating said finger-receiving elementupon said flat portion. a

3. In combination'with a shank or stem adapted for use asacrochet-needle, or the like said shank being provided with flattenedportions, a carrier-plate mounted upon one of said flat portions of saidshank or stem, a finger-receiving element located above saidcarrier-plate and a means of pivotalconnection between saidcarrier-plateand the said finger-receiving element for oscillating saidfinger-receiving element upon said carrier-plate.

4;. In combination with a shank or stem adapted for use as acrochet-needle, or the like said shank being provided with flattenedportions, a carrier-plate mounted upon one of said flat portions of saidshank or stem, a finger-receiving element located above saidcarrier-plate, said finger-receiving element consisting of a base and apair of resilient wings extending from the opposite edges of said base,said wings being curved in opposite directions and terminating towardeach other, and a means of pivotal connection between said carrierplateand the base of said finger-receiving element for oscillating saidfinger-receiving element upon said carrier-plate.

5. In combination with a shank or stem adapted for use as acrochet-needle, or the like said shank being provided with flattenedportions, a carrier-plate mounted upon one of said fiat portions of saidshank or stem, a pivot-post extending upwardly from said carrier-plate,a finger-receiving element located above said carrier-plate, saidfingerreceiving element consisting of a perforated base for pivotallymounting the same upon said post, and a pair of resilient wingsextending from the opposite edges of said base, said wings being curvedin opposite directions and terminating toward each other.

6. In combination with a shank or stem adapted for use as acrochet-needle, or the like said shank being provided with flattenedportions, a carrier-plate comprising a main body, a tubular holdingmember at one end of said body, and a receiving member at the other endof said body provided with an upwardly projecting guide-flange, allarranged for receiving said shank or stem and for mounting saidcarrier-plate upon one of said flat portions of said shank or stem, afinger-receiving element located above said carrier-plate, and a meansof pivotal connection between said carrierplate and the saidfinger-receiving element for oscillating said finger-receiving elementupon said carrier-plate. V

7. In combination with a shank or stemadapted for use as acrochet-needle, or the like said shank being provided with flattenedportions, a carrier-plate comprising a main body, a tubular holdingmember at one end of said body, and a receiving memher at the other endof said body provided with an upwardly projecting guide-flange, allarranged for receiving said shank or stem and for mounting saidcarrier-plate upon one of said flat portions of said'shank or stem, afinger-receiving element located above said carrier-plate, saidfingenreceiving element consisting of a base and a pairof resilientwings extending from the opposite edges of said base, said wings beingcurved" in opposite directions and terminating toward each other,and'ameans of pivotal connection between said carrier-plate all arrangedfor receiving said shank or stem and for mounting said carrier-plateupon one or said flat portions of said shank or stem, a pivot-postextending upwardlyiroin 'sald carrier-plate, a finger-receiving elementlocated above said carrier-plate, said finger-receiving elementconsisting of a perforated base for pivotally mounting the same uponsaid post, and a pair of resilient wings extending from the oppositeedges oi said base, said wings be ng curved in opposite direct-ionsandterminating-toward each other. I I i In testimony thatI claimtheinventionset forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of-December, 1920. 3

Witnesses r GEORGE DLRICHARD, 7 EVA E, Diiso'H;

' SAMUEL M. BIKER.

